Entertainment

Irish trad music’s best talents celebrated at Gradam Ceoil TG4

The annual traditional music awards concert takes place in Limerick on May 5

Recipients of the seven Gradam Ceoil TG4 2024 awards announced today.
 This year's outstanding awardees were announced during a special lunchtime concert at the University of LimerickÕs Irish World Academy.  
 Gradam Ceoil TG4, now in its 27th year continues to recognise and celebrate the absolute best in performance and cultural impact in seven categories. 
The announcement of the annual awards is an important moment in the traditional music calendar not just to recognise the achievements of the seven awardees but also to celebrate the outstanding talent that our country has to offer.  The awardees reflect the outstanding vibrancy, diversity and huge work being done to ensure that our tradition continues to evolve with such flair and will be handed down in the best of health!. 

Pictured is Gradam Ceoil TG4 2024 - Derek Hickey, Adare Co. Limerick. 

Derek Hickey is from Adare in County Limerick. Both his grandfathers played fiddle and his own musical career began at the age of ten, when his uncle left an accordion in the family home. Derek progressed to dance tunes within weeks though he didnÕt begin lessons Ð under the tutelage of D—nal de Barra Ð until he was 12. His professional career began three years later when he joined the Shannonside CŽil’ Band, founded by the Liddy family. The band toured extensively in England and throughout Europe.

In 1991 Frankie Gavin asked Derek to join him for regular sessions in his then leased hotel in Kinvara, Co. Galway. One year later, at just eighteen, Derek joined Arcady, Johnny ÔRingoÕ McDonaghÕs band, along with Frances Black, Brendan Larrisey and Patsy Broderick.  Other guest members of this band included Sharon Shannon, Cathal Hayden and Gerry OÕConnor.

In 1995 he joined De Dannan, recording two albums and touring until they disbanded in 2003. Derek is the button accordion tutor on the BA Irish Music and Dance at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick. In 2023 he performed at the National Concert Hall Dublin, as part of the third series of the Irish Traditional Music ArchiveÕs ÔDrawing from the WellÕ series.  Widely acknowledged as one of IrelandÕs most prominent and influential master accordion players, his eponymous 2022 album was deemed by fellow box player Dermot Byrne as Òa recording of a pure geniusÓ. Picture: Alan Place.
Derek Hickey from Adare, Co Limerick is the 2024 Gradam Ceoil TG4 Musician of the Year (Alan Place/Alan Place)

The confection of celebrity is almost completely absent from Irish traditional music, I’m glad to say.

There are no Hello! articles looking at Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich at home - although that would be a fascinating story in itself – and trad musicians aren’t invited on to panel shows or asked to present documentaries à la Joanna Lumley: The Search for Noah’s Ark or Stephen Fry in America although I wouldn’t mind seeing Gino Lupari’s Italy or Kíla Go To Africa.

Traditional musicians get their kicks from their peers and from their audiences, but the one thing that everyone looks forward to is Gradam Ceoil TG4, where the (usually) unsung are heralded with a fitting fanfare once a year.

The outstanding winners for 2024 were announced during a special lunchtime concert at the University of Limerick’s Irish World Academy last week, a fitting venue where Irish music in all its forms is suited and booted for its journey into the world.

26.03.24                      REPRO FREE    
Recipients of the seven Gradam Ceoil TG4 2024 awards announced today.
 This year's outstanding awardees were announced during a special lunchtime concert at the University of LimerickÕs Irish World Academy.  
 Gradam Ceoil TG4, now in its 27th year continues to recognise and celebrate the absolute best in performance and cultural impact in seven categories. 
The announcement of the annual awards is an important moment in the traditional music calendar not just to recognise the achievements of the seven awardees but also to celebrate the outstanding talent that our country has to offer.  The awardees reflect the outstanding vibrancy, diversity and huge work being done to ensure that our tradition continues to evolve with such flair and will be handed down in the best of health!. 

Pictured is Ceolt—ir îg TG4 2024 / Young Musician Ð MacDara î Faol‡in, An Rinn, County Waterford. 

Macdara î Faol‡in is a multi-instrumentalist and instrument maker from An Rinn, County Waterford. He started learning tin whistle and the fiddle at the age of 5 but discovering the music of Andy Irvine and Planxty and being mesmerised by it, he progressed on to the mandolin, under the instruction of Peter O'Connor. He received a bouzouki for Christmas when he was 8 and it quickly took over as his main instrument, receiving lessons from Se‡n î Fearghail. He has recorded and performed with some of the best-known names in Irish traditional music, including Derek Hickey, The Friel Sisters, Nell N’ Chr—in’n, Cormac McCarthy, Victoria Adiiye and Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh. His intimate knowledge of harmony and instrumental technique come together to create his own unique style of accompaniment on the bouzouki.

Twin-tracking with his playing and performing, he developed a keen interest in woodwork at a very early age, after receiving a childrenÕs woodwork set from his parents.  Aged 14, he made his first instrument Ð a ukulele - as part of a Junior Certificate programme.   

He is now a professional luthier, building beautiful, fretted instruments - primarily bouzoukis and mandolins - for clients internationally from his studio at An Sean Phobal, close to the family home at An Rinn.   He is a founding member of the group Nuad‡n, along with his brothers C‡rthach and Pax, with whom he has recorded two albums, "L‡ Laind’ Lugha" and "DŽn D’obh‡il". He continues to have a busy performing career and recently completed an honours degree in the Cork School of Music. Picture: Alan Place.
Young Musician of the Year, Macdara Ó Faoláin (Alan Place/Alan Place)

The TG4 Music Awards, now 27 years old, continue to recognise and celebrate performance excellence and cultural impact in seven categories.

The announcement of the annual awards is an important time in the traditional music calendar, not only to acknowledge the achievements of the seven winners but to celebrate the excellent musicians we have in this country.

The winners are an expression of the vibrancy, diversity and excellent work being done to ensure that our tradition continues to be developed in such an artistic way and that the highest quality is passed on to the next generation.



The TG4 Music Award, which was established in 1998, not only recognises the craft of the winners but also seeks to boost the success of the winners and make their music, songs and dance available to interested parties around the world through broadcasts on TG4 platforms.

An independent panel undertakes the selection process for the TG4 Music Award. Several of the panel members are former winners and all play or work within the tradition.

Proinsias Ní Gráinne, commissioning editor of TG4, said that the Irish language station was “delighted to have this opportunity to recognise these talented people within our tradition”.

“The award is a sign of gratitude from us to all these performers who appear in our traditional music programmes week after week,” she said.

“We are delighted to be able to help them make their music available to a global audience through a live broadcast of the 2024 Music Awards on the TG4 broadcasting platforms.”

Indeed, with TG4 programmes available worldwide and - who knows? - farther afield, the value of the station to Irish traditional music is incalculable.

With series after series, people can enjoy authentic Irish music being played in traditional and non-traditional settings. You can watch a session in a pub in Kerry while you’re living in Ulaanbaatar, Kampala, Des Moines or Bucharest.

The Music Awards are broadcast live on TG4 and around the world on the TG4 Player (you must try the TG4 Player if you haven’t already) and various special musical guests and award winners will join the recipients for a lively night of music, fun and entertainment.

The winner of this year’s top prize goes to accordionist Derek Hickey from Adare in Co Limerick.

As usual with traditional musicians, the musical genealogy goes way back.

Derek’s grandfathers played the fiddle and he began his musical career when he was only 10 years old when his uncle left his bosca ceoil behind in the family home.

He continued and was playing dance tunes within a few weeks although he didn’t start classes - led by Dónal de Barra - until he was 12 years old.

He began his career on a professional basis when he joined the Liddy family’s Shannonside Céilí Band which toured England and throughout Europe.

In 1991, Frankie Gavin asked Derek to join him for the regular sessions at the hotel he was leasing at the time in Kinvara, Co Galway.

A year later and aged just 18, Derek joined Arcady, Johnny ‘Ringo’ McDonagh’s band with Frances Black, Brendan Larrisey and Patsy Broderick.

Other guest performers in the band include Sharon Shannon, Cathal Hayden and Gerry O’Connor.

In 1995, Derek joined De Dannan, recording two albums as well as touring until the band disbanded in 2003 but he is also involved in the academic side of things.

He is a button accordion instructor on the Irish music and dance BA course in the faculty Irish Dance and Music Club at the University of Limerick.

Recipients of the seven Gradam Ceoil TG4 2024 awards announced today.
 This year's outstanding awardees were announced during a special lunchtime concert at the University of LimerickÕs Irish World Academy.  
 Gradam Ceoil TG4, now in its 27th year continues to recognise and celebrate the absolute best in performance and cultural impact in seven categories. 
The announcement of the annual awards is an important moment in the traditional music calendar not just to recognise the achievements of the seven awardees but also to celebrate the outstanding talent that our country has to offer.  The awardees reflect the outstanding vibrancy, diversity and huge work being done to ensure that our tradition continues to evolve with such flair and will be handed down in the best of health!. 

Pictured are Grœpa Ceoil TG4 2024 / Music Group Ð THE KANE SISTERS, Yvonne and Liz, North Conamara. 

From North Conamara, Liz and Yvonne Kane, known as The Kane Sisters, are much respected musicians and educators. Born in Letterfrack, they were educated in Kylemore Abbey School. They were taught music by the great Sligo musician and music teacher, Mary Finn and by their grandfather, Jimmy Mullen.

From a young age, they have been very influenced by the traditional music of Sligo and East Galway, in particular the music of the master composer and fiddle player Paddy Fahey. Liz and Yvonne first came to national and international prominence during the three-year period in which they toured with accordion player, Sharon Shannon as members of her band, The Woodchoppers. They travelled all over the world with her band and are featured artists on SharonÕs album ÔThe Diamond Mountain Sessions.Õ

Following this period of touring with Sharon Shannon, they decided to embark musically on their own and they recorded their first album in 2002 entitled ÔThe Well Tempered BowÕ. The Kane Sisters toured Ireland and the United States following the release of their first album and they followed up with a second album ÔUnder the DiamondÕ in 2004 and third album in 2010 called ÔSide by sideÕ. In 2022 they released their fourth album ÔIn Memory of Paddy FaheyÕ featuring 15 of his compositions as well as newly written tunes from both Liz and Yvonne. Based in Letterfrack they have a solid teaching schedule with a large number of fiddle students both locally and virtually. Picture: Alan Place.
This year's Grúpa Ceoil/Music Group winners are The Kane Sisters, Yvonne and Liz, from north Conamara (Alan Place/Alan Place)

Derek is widely recognised as one of Ireland’s leading and most influential musicians and the Gradam TG4 is well deserved.

This column is also delighted to see composer Ryan Molloy get his TG4 gong.

Ryan is a composer and musician from Pomeroy but currently living in Kildare. He has recorded over 30 albums and his repertoire covers a number of genres from traditional Irish music to contemporary classical music.

Amongst the other winners are: Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin (singer of the year); Macdara Ó Faoláin (young musician of the year); dancer Jean Butler gets the Lifetime Achievement Award while the Kane Sisters pick up the musical group title.

Finally, the Outstanding Contribution award goes to Cairdeas na bhFidléirí.

The celebratory concert and awards ceremony will be broadcast live on TG4 and TG4.ie from the University Concert Hall in Limerick at 9.30pm on May 5.